Woman’s Weekly magazine, published by Future, has announced it has set a Guinness World Record after its readers collectively knitted 46,506 handmade wool mice to be donated to over 300 cat rescue centres across the United Kingdom.
Earlier this year, the magazine invited readers to create small enrichment toys for rescue cats using a free pattern. The response far exceeded expectations, with thousands of parcels arriving at Future’s London headquarters over several months.
Woman’s Weekly readers have a long tradition of coming together through knitting and crocheting — from 3.4km of knitted bunting to thousands of handmade Christmas decorations, added the publisher. This year’s challenge continues that spirit of creativity and community.
The knitted and crocheted mice are now being distributed to rescue centres across the UK, providing playful stimulation and cosy comfort for thousands of cats currently awaiting rehoming.
Geoff Palmer, editor of Woman’s Weekly, said: “This world record is a remarkable testament to the generosity, creativity and community spirit of our readers. Every mouse was handmade with care, and the scale of the response speaks to the deep connection our audience has with the brand and their love of animals. We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together.”
Mary Bird, head of marketing, Woman’s Weekly, said: “The goal of this initiative was simple: to bring joy to cats in rescue centres across the country. The response from our readers surpassed all expectations, and we are thrilled that their collective effort has resulted not only in a Guinness World Record but in tangible impact.”
Nicola Murray, centre manager of Cats Protection’s North West London Cat Centre said: “We are extremely grateful for the thousands of knitted mice donated through this project. Enrichment items like these play a vital role in supporting the wellbeing of cats in our care, and the volume received has been extraordinary.”
According to Woman’s Weekly, the initiative builds on Woman’s Weekly’s long-running “Get Together” campaigns, focused on getting readers together to knit for a good cause. Previous reader efforts include:
- 6,000 hats for people experiencing homelessness
- 2,000 blankets for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
- 3,000 blankets for children in Ukraine
- 6,651 knitted baby vests for Fuel Poverty
This year’s challenge marks the largest single collection of knitted items yet, underscoring the strength of Woman’s Weekly’s crafting community.
To read the full story — and learn how to join future community knitting projects — pick up the latest issue of Woman’s Weekly, on newsstands now.
Keep up-to-date with publishing news: sign up here for InPubWeekly, our free weekly e-newsletter.
